Load-bundling and strapping apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for bundling and strapping a pile of logs or similar objects includes a protective operator&#39;&#39;s compartment attached to the load-handling mechanism of a materials handling vehicle. Single fixed upper and lower jaws extend forwardly from the upper and lower ends of the operator&#39;&#39;s compartment. A tusk pivoted to the forward end of the upper jaw moves from an open position for positioning the upper and lower jaws above and below the objects to be bundled to a closed position wherein the upper and lower arms, operator&#39;&#39;s compartment and tusk encircle and contain the objects to be bundled and strapped. A power strap feeder in the operator&#39;&#39;s compartment shoots a length of steel strap from a supply reel around the bundled objects along a strap track which extends about the inner circumference of the jaws and tusk. The strap is released from its track to engage the bundle when tensioned, after which it is crimped and sealed. Controls within the compartment enable operation of the tusk, vehicle and strapping tools from within the compartment where the operator is fully protected from the load.

United States Patent Morrow 1 June 17, 1975 LOAD-BUNDLING AND STRAPPING APPARATUS l5 7] ABSTRACT 75 Inventor; Ehno Morrow Portland, Greg An apparatus for bundling and strapping a pile of logs 0 or similar objects includes a protective operator's [73] Asslgnee: Manufacmnng! Inc-v compartment attached to the load-handling mecha- Portland, Oreg.

Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Klarquist, Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston nism of a materials handling vehicle. Single fixed upper and lower jaws extend forwardly from the upper and lower ends of the operator's compartment. A tusk pivoted to the forward end of the upper jaw moves from an open position for positioning the upper and lower jaws above and below the objects to be bundled to a closed position wherein the upper and lower arms, operator's compartment and tusk encircle and contain the objects to be bundled and strapped. A power strap feeder in the operators compartment shoots a length of steel strap from a supply reel around the bundled objects along a strap track which extends about the inner circumference of the jaws and tusk. The strap is released from its track to engage the bundle when tensioned, after which it is crimped and sealed. Controls within the compartment enable operation of the tusk, vehicle and strapping tools from within the compartment where the operator is fully protected from the load.

20 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTEUJUN 17 1975 FIG.

FIG. 5

I8 FIG. 2

LOAD-BUNDLING AND STRAPPING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for bundling and strapping a pile of logs or other elongate load objects.

2. Description of the Prior Art The banding of logs into bundles with steel straps before transporting them to the mill, whether by track, rail car or river floating, offers numerous advantages as follows: I

a. Log bundles can be piled higher than loose logs for storage at the mill site;

b. Floating of logs to the mill by river in bundles keeps logs afloat that would otherwise sink because of their high moisture content if floated individually;

c. When logs are sorted by dimension or other criteria into cribs in the woods, banding of the sorted logs before loading onto the carrier maintains the sorting classification until the logs are ready for processing;

d. Banding of logs on the carrier, whether rail car or truck. helps secure the load and prevent loss or injury;

e. Banding of logs before loading them onto the carrier facilitates the loading operation.

Despite the advantages of banding logs into bundles before transporting them to the mill, banding has not been a common practice. One of the main reasons for this is that in the past banding has been done by hand. usually while the load is loosely contained on a log truck. Banding a load of logs by hand is both difficult and highly dangerous because of the possibility of the pile shifting or a log rolling during the banding opera tron.

Accordingly there has been a need for a mechanized means for banding logs into bundles efficiently and without endangering the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of bundling and banding a pile of logs or other elongate load objects to facilitate subsequent handling and storage.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus in the form of an attachment for a conventional load-handling vehicle such as a lift truck whereby a bundle can be strapped at either ground level or while on a carrier.

A further object is to provide such a bundling and strapping attachment which can perform the bundling and strapping operations with the operator in a protected operators compartment safe from shifting or falling loads.

Another object is to provide such an attachment with an operator's compartment remote from the vehicle, from which a single operator can bundle the load objects. strap the bundle and operate the vehicle, thereby enabling the operator to perform the complete banding operation without leaving his compartment on the attachment.

An important object is to provide such an apparatus capable of bundling logs or other load objects into carrier-sized bundles.

In accordance with the foregoing objects. the bundling and strapping apparatus features a rear operators cage attached directly to the lift and tilt arms ofa conventional materials handling vehicle. Such compartment contains all controls and tools necessary for driving the vehicle. operating the bundling and strapping apparatus and positioning the apparatus with respect to the load. Fixed single upper and lower jaw members project forwardly from the operators cage in vertically spaced relation to define a load space therebetween. A single movable jaw or tusk pivoted to the forward end of the upperjaw moves between a raised open position permitting the load to enter between the fixed jaws. and a lowered closed position to enclose the load.

A strapping track is provided along the inner circumference of the three jaw members. and a power strapping attachment at the cage "shoots" a length of strap along the track and about the load when the movable jaw is closed. Strap-retaining means on the overhead portions of the strap track prevents the strap from falling by gravity from the track but releases the strap from the track when the strap is pulled in tension to engage the load. Power tensioning and sealing tools are pro vided in the operators cage to secure the strap tightly about the load after the slack in the strap is taken up.

The foregoing and other objects. features and advantages of the present invention will become more appar ent from the following detailed description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a materials handling vehicle with a bundling and strapping attachment in accor dance with the invention shown in operable position with respect to a pile of logs on a log carrier vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bundling and strapping attachments of FIG. I on a slightly enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the strapping attachment of FIG. 1;

FIG. Sis a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 9-9 of FIGS. 3 and 10;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIGS. 4 and 9'.

FIG. 11 is a view partly in section taken approximately along the line Il-ll of FIG. 3 showing the power strap feeder in the operators compartment and the adjacent track portion of the upper jaw; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIGS. 4 and II.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION General Arrangement Referring first to FIGS. 1. 2, 3 and 4, the bundling and strapping apparatus of the invention indicated generally at 10 is designed as an attachment to a conventional materials handling vehicle, such as the typical log loader shown. Such vehicle has hydraulic cylinder operated lift arms 13 and other hydraulic tilt cylinders 14 to which the bundling and strapping apparatus is attached. The rear of the vehicle carries an air supply tank 15, the compressed air of which is used to operate the power strap tensioning and sealing tools used by the operator.

The bundling and strapping attachment includes a vertically extending frame structure defining an operators cage or compartment 16 within which a single operator is stationed at controls 17 during the bundling and strapping procedure A single straight lower fixed jaw member or tine 18 extends forwardly from a central lower end portion of the operators cage for a sufficient distance to extend fully beneath a load to be bundled. Similarly a single generally gooseneck-shaped upper fixed jaw member 20 extends upwardly and then forwardly from the roof of the operators cage in vertically spaced relation to the lower jaw at a height sufficient to overlie a pile ofload objects to be bundled and strapped. Thus the upper and lower jaws provide a load space therehetween for receiving a load through the open forward end between the jaws.

A generally curved tusk or movable jaw member 22 is pivoted at 23 to a forward end of the upper jaw 20 for movement between an upper position (FIG. 1) wherein the load space is open to receive a load and a lower closed position wherein the load space is closed to contain a load. A hydraulic cylinder 21 pivoted at 21a to the upper jaw has its piston rod pivoted at 21b to the tusk for swinging the tusk between its raised and lowered positions. In its closed position the curved free end 25 of tusk 22 meets and straddles the outer free end 24 of lower jaw 18.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 4, with tusk 22 in its closed position there is a smooth transition from the upper jaw to the tusk and from the tusk to the lower jaw along the inner circumferences of these members. In fact the inner surface of the lower fixed jaw includes a smoothly curved transition section 26 merging with the operator's cage so that the entire inner circumference of the jaw structure presents a generally curvilinear appearance. The purpose of this curved configuration is to enable a metal banding strap to be fed smoothly along the inner circumference of the jaw structure from the cage and back to the cage to encircle the load of logs contained within the load space. For this purpose a strap track 30 is provided along the inner circumference of the jaw structure including the tusk, and a power strap feeding means 28 is provided at an upper forward portion of the operator's cage. Strap feeder 28 feeds the metal strap 32 from a storage reel 34 in the cage first along an upper straight track section 30a of the upperjaw, then along a curved track section 30b, and then in succession along an upper curved track section 300 and lower section 30d of the tusk and finally back to the cage along a straight track section 30e and curved track section 30f of the lower jaw.

In general the procedure for bundling and strapping a pile of logs or other load objects is to approach the pile with the tusk open, driving the upper and lower fixed jaws above and below the pile. Then the tusk is closed to encompass the bundle after which the strap 32 is shot" about the pile along the strap track. Thereafter the free end of the encircling strap is gripped in a tensioning tool while the opposite end attached to the reel is removed from the strap feeder and pulled back toward the cage to take up the slack. When this occurs, the strap is released from the track and engages the bundle. With both ends of the strap now in the tensioning tool and tensioned about the bundle, a second airpowered tool is used to crimp and seal together the two ends of the strap.

Operators Compartment Details Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, operators cage or compartment 16 is designed to protect the operator from the danger of shifting and rolling logs contained within the jaws of the apparatus. To this end the compartment comprises a generally rectangular frame structure including a covered roof 40 braced by steel beams 41 supported by vertically extending steel columns 42 which, because of their close spacing, prevent entry oflogs or other load objects from the load space. The vertical columns also serve to support the logs within the jaws in close proximity to the compartment to enable the operator to tension and seal the strap about the bundle from within his compartment. There are three such columns 42 along the front of the cage extending downwardly through a base platform 44 on which the operator stands. The platform extends transversely beyond the steel columns on one side to define a sort of porch having a railing 46 and from which the operator can make observations if necessary.

The rear columns of the compartment support a plate 48 to which two vertically spaced sets of cars 50, 51 are secured for attaching the lifting arms 13 and the tilt cyl' inders 14 of the load-handling vehicle. Thus the apparatus can be raised to any desirable level within the limits of reach of the vehicle by raising arms 13 while the vertical disposition of the apparatus is maintained by tilt cylinders 14.

The operator's station includes vehicle controls and a jaw control, indicated generally at 17, provided at one side of the compartment 16, opposite the porch extension. The controls include three lever controls for controlling tusk movement, tilt cylinders 14, and lift arms 13, whereby all three such functions can be controlled at such station remote from the vehicle cab. Additionally, the operators station includes a remote vehicle steering wheel 54, brake pedal 56, and vehicle speed and directional controls 58 whereby the loadhandling vehicle can be driven remotely from the operators cage. Thus a single operator within the cage can perform the entire bundling and strapping operation, including driving the vehicle and banding a bundle of logs at several positions along its length without ever leaving his compartment.

Within a central portion of the compartment, a box 60 is designed to retain a IOU-lb. coil of metal strap. The strap is fed from this coil to the previously mentioned power strap feeder 28 at the infeed end of the strap track 30. Typical dimensions of steel strap suitable for banding logs is 1.25 X 0.075 inches. The power strap feeder includes a funnel-shaped strap infeed 28a, strap guideways 28b, 28c and a set of pinch rolls 28d driven by a hydraulic motor 29. Suitable power strap feeders which may be successfully incorporated as a part of the apparatus of the present invention include Model PSF 1 l4 Special, manufactured by Signode Corporation; Model E-60, manufactured by lnterlake, Inc; and Model D-568l9707, manufactured by Stanley Strapping Systems.

ln addition to the foregoing, a power strap-tensioning tool 62 and a power strap crimper and sealer 64 are carried within the compartment in a position convenient to the operator for tensioning, crimping and seal ing the strap about a bundle when desired. The tensioning and sealing tools 62, 64 are air-operated and of conventional design, with the air being supplied from the tank carried on the rear end of vehicle 12. Several different companies supply these tools. Suitable tensioning tools for use with the present apparatus include Models PB-l l4, PN R-l l4, FN-l MT and HN-l-l l4, all manufactured by Signode Corporation; Models B1- P-1035. B-l-Q-l035, A-l4-C-l035, and A-l5-B-l035, all manufactured by Interlake, Inc.; and Model PHDX5425903, manufactured by Stanley Strapping Systems. Suitable combination crimping/sealing tools suitable for use in connection with the present apparatus include Models N-l435-1435-L. N-l444-5OL, NS- l457-75, NSF-1435, RCN-l435. and RCNS-l435, all manufactured by Signodc Corporation; Models C-S-A- 1050, C-8- lO-IOSO. C-8-A- I065, C-8-F-l035 and C-8- C-l035, all manufactured by lnterlake, Inc.; and Model PHD-36410900, manufactured by Stanley Strapping Systems.

Strap Track Details As evident from FIGS. 6 and 7, the strap track sections 30d, 30c and 30falong the intermediate and lower tusk and the lowerjaw take the form of simple channel indentations 70, 72 along the inner surfaces of such members. Lower end of the tusk is adapted to straddle outer end 24 of the lower jaw so that the channel portion 72 of the lower tusk merges smoothly with the channel portion 70 of the lower jaw and the latter forms a smooth continuation of the former. Thus strap 32 can be fed smoothly from the channel of the lower tusk to the channel of the lower jaw.

From FIGS. 8, l0 and 12 it will be evident that the overhead track sections a, 30b, 30c which extend along the entire length of the upper jaw and continue through the upper curved section of the tusk are of a more sophisticated nature than the simple channel previously described with respect to the lower tusk and lower jaw. This is necessary to retain the strap in its track along these portions against the force of gravity until the strap has been fed about the load. The overhead track structure includes special strap-retaining means indicated generally at 74 in FIG. 8, 76 in FIG. 10, and 78 in FIG. 12. Such retaining means is operable to release the strap from these overhead track sections when an end of the strap is pulled from the cage to take up slack so that the strap can be cinched tightly about the load within the jaws.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the overhead track and associated retaining means will first be described for the straight track section 30a extending from the power strap feeder 28 along the upper jaw to the point where the first curve of the track begins. Since this track section is straight, a single retaining means is used for the full length of this section. Such retaining means comprises a pair of laterally opposed L-shaped platelike arms 80, 81, with inturned lower strap-retaining lips 82. The opposed lips are spaced slightly from one another and support strap 32 on their upper surfaces. The lips are spaced below a spacer block 84 so that the lower surface of such block and the lower portions of the arms including lips 82 define a guideway for strap 32. Retainer arms 80, 81 are mounted to the lower portions 860, 87a of hinges 86, 87 which are in turn fastened to opposite sides of spacer block 84 to enable hinging movement of the lower hinge sections and thus the retaining arms 80, 8] outwardly about the axes of hinge pins 86b, 87b to the phantom line positions shown in FIG. 12 to release strap 32 from the track. However, retaining arms 80, 8] are normally biased to their strapretaining positions by coil springs 88 shown in FIG. ll encircling hinge pins 86b, 87b.

From FIG. 11 it will also be noted that the opposite lower ends of the retaining arms 86, 87 are turned downwardly and outwardly. This feature facilitates the feeding of strap 32 from the power strap feeder onto this track section. The feature also causes the strap to exert an outward force on the retainer arms and thus an outward moment of force about the hinge pins to swing such arms outwardly to release the strap from this track section when the strap is pulled from the operators cage to take up slack. This action will initiate a similar release of the strap from the retaining means of other track sections in a manner to be described.

Because of the substantial curvature along the inner circumference of the remaining overhead jaw portions of the apparatus, the strap-retaining means along such portions comprise a series of short retainer arm segments 90, referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Each such segment 90 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 includes a pair of generally L-shaped retainer arms 92, 93 having inturned lower lips 94 for supporting strap 32. Each pair of such retainer arms is supported by a common pair of transverse pins 95 extending through openings in upper portions of the arms and through a spacer block 96. Such block is mounted to a plate 97 which in turn is secured to an inner surface of upper jaw 20 or tusk 22 as the case may be. The opposite ends of each pin 95 extend outwardly beyond each pin-supported pair of retainer arms and receive coil springs 98 retained on the pin ends by cotter pins 99. Each such spring engages one of retainer arms 92, 93 and urges it inwardly flush against spacer block 96 so that lips 94 are in strapsupporting positions. However, as previously described with respect to retaining arms 80, 81 of FIG. ll, retainer arms 92 and 93 also have downwardly and outwardly turned lower opposite ends, clearly shown with respect to arm 93 at 930 and 93b respectively in FIG. 9. Each retainer arm segment 90 is of similar construction.

From the foregoing description of the various strapretaining segments, the action of such segments when the strap is pulled by the operator at the cage to take up slack will be readily apparent. When this occurs the portions of strap 32 lying in the simple channel portions of the track along the lower jaw and intermediate and lower portions of the tusk leave their channel and engage the load within the jaws. At the same time the strap portions along the upper tusk track section 30 push downwardly against the lips 94 of retainer arms 92, 93, causing such arms to separate and release the strap. When this occurs the strap exerts a downward force successively against downturned leading portions of the lips 94 of segments 90 along the upper jaw, causing such segments to separate in succession to release the strap so that it engages the load. After the strap is released from all of the strap-retaining segments, the segments return to their normal inwardly biased positions ready to receive another length of strap.

Although only the strap-retaining arm segments 90 along the upper jaw have been described in detail, the strap-retaining arm segments 90 along the upper curved portion of the tusk are ofidentical construction, function and operation.

Operation The log-bundling and -strapping apparatus is used as follows: Assuming that a load of logs is on a log truck as shown in FIG. 1, and extending between a set of bunks on such truck, the operator of vehicle 12 positions himself at the controls within the operators cage. Then, using the remote vehicle controls in the cage, he maneuvers the vehicle to a position close beside the load on the truck at a position offset from both sets of bunks where he wishes to apply a strap to the load. He then elevates the attachment to a level at which the lower jaw can be inserted below the load using the ap propriate levers S2 in the cage to raise vehicle lift arms 13 and operate tilt cylinders 14 to maintain the cage vertical. lf tusk 22 is not already open, it is opened using the appropriate lever 52 to retract tusk-operating cylinder 21. With the tusk open, the operator moves the vehicle forwardly to position lower jaw 18 below the load and upper jaw 20 above the load with the load close to the operators cage. He then stops the vehicle and Closes tusk 22 to enclose the load within the jaws.

The operator then activates the power strap feeder to shoot a length of strap 32 from the cage along the strap track 30, around the load and back to the cage until the free end of the strap is within reach of the operator in the cage. At this point the operator inserts the free end of the strap 32 in the tensioning tool 62, removes the strap from the power strap feeder 28 and pulls on the upper portion of the strap to release it from the strap track and take up the slack until the strap fully engages the load. Then the other end of the strap is placed in the tensioning tool with the free end, and with the tool next to the load, it is operated to tension the strap about the load. With the strap in tension, the operator takes the crimping and sealing tool, and applies it to overlapping end portions of the strap to seal the strap about the load in tension. The bundle is now banded at one position.

The operator then takes the remaining free end of the strap coil, replaces it in the power strap feeder and into the straight track section of the upper jaw ready for the next banding operation. Then tusk 22 is reopened by retracting tusk cylinder 21, and the vehicle is backed away from the load and driven to a second position along the load to repeat the banding operation.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the entire banding operation can be performed by a single operator positioned in the operator's cage remote from the vehicle cab and protected from the load by the cage it self. This arrangement enables a highly efficient and safe operation.

Having illustrated and described what is presently a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An elongate load-bundling and -strapping attachment for a materials handling vehicle, said attachment comprising:

vertically extending frame means adapted for attachment to the load-handling mechanism of said vehicle rearwardly of the load,

a lower jaw means projecting forwardly from a lower portion of said frame means and adapted to extend beneath the load,

an upper jaw means projecting forwardly from an upper portion of said frame means in vertically spaced relation to said lower jaw means and adapted to extend over the load,

movable jaw means pivoted at one end thereof to a forward end portion of said upper jaw means for generally vertical pivoting movement, said movable jaw means being pivotable between a raised open position enabling positioning of said upper and lower jaw means above and below the load and a lowered closed position wherein said movable jaw means extends downwardly from said upper jaw means to said lower jaw means to contain the load,

and track means along the inner circumference of said upper, lower and movable jaw means for guiding a binding strap about the load, said track means being continuous from one said jaw means to the others when said movable jaw means is closed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means defines an operators compartment for controlling the operation of said movable jaw means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means defines an operatorss compartment including control means for operating said jaw means and strapping means for feeding a metal binding strap along said track means to encircle a load within said jaw means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means defines an operators compartment including structural means for protecting an operator within said compartment from a load within said jaw means and control means for operating said movable jaw means, strapping means for feeding a strap along said track means to encircle a load within said jaw means. and remote control means for operating an attached vehicle from said operators compartment.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said lower jaw means comprises a single straight jaw member fixed to and extending horizontally from a'lower end of said operators compartment, said upper jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member fixed to an upper end of said operator's compartment and including a generally horizontally extending outer portion, said movable jaw means comprising a single elongate curved jaw member curving outwardly and downwardly from said upper jaw member and curving inwardly toward said lower jaw member when said movable jaw member is in its closed position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means for pivoting said movable jaw means between its open and its closed positions comprising an extensible fluid motor means carried by said upper jaw means and con nected to said movable jaw means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said operators compartment includes a protective roof and protective load-restraining structural members extending from said roof to a platform portion of said compartment rearwardly of a load space defined by said upper, lower and movable jaw means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a strap supply retention means and a power-operated strap feed means carried by said compartment for feeding said strap from said supply means into said track means at said upper jaw means and then in succession about said upper, movable and lower jaw means and back to said compartment.

10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said track means along said upper jaw means includes a strap-retaining means for retaining said strap in said track means against the force of gravity, said strapretaining means being releasable under a pulling force on said strap to release said strap from said track means to engage a load within said jaw means.

11. Apparatus according to claim wherein said strap-retaining means is provided along substantially the full length of said upper jaw means and along an upper portion of said movable jaw means, said track means along the remaining length of said movable jaw means and along said lower jaw means comprising a channel-shaped open track extending inwardly of said movable and lower jaw means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said strap-retaining means comprises a series of longitudinally adjacent retainer segments, each including a pair of laterally opposed retainer arm sections with inwardly extending lower strap-retaining portions, said arm sections being spring-biased inwardly to strap-retaining positions and being laterally separable from one another to release a retained strap when said strap is caused to exert a positive pressure against said arm sections.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lower jaw means comprises a single straight jaw member fixed to and extending horizontally from said frame means, said upper jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member fixed to said frame means and including a generally horizontally extending outer portion, said movable jaw means comprising a single elongate curved jaw member curving outwardly from said upper jaw member, and inwardly toward said lower jaw member when said movable jaw member is in its closed position.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a strap supply retention means and power-operated strap feed means carried by said frame means for feeding said strap from said supply means into said track means and about said upper, movable and lower jaw means.

16. Apparatus according to claim wherein said track means along said upper jaw means includes a strap-retaining means for retaining said strap in said track means against the force of gravity, said strapretaining means being releasable under a pulling force on said strap to release said strap from said track means to engage a load within said jaw means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said strap-retaining means is provided along substantially the full length of said upper jaw means and along an upper portion of said movable jaw means, said track means along the remaining length of said movable jaw means and along said lower jaw means comprising a channel-shaped open track extending inwardly of said movable and lower jaw means.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said strap-retaining means comprises a series of longitudinally adjacent retainer segments, each including a pair oflaterally opposed retainer arm sections with inwardly extending lower strapretaining portions, said arm sections being spring-biased inwardly to strap-retaining positions and being laterally separable from one another to release a retained strap when said strap is caused to exert a positive pressure against said arm sections.

19. An elongate load-bundling and -strapping attachment for a vehicle, said attachment comprising:

vertically extending frame means adapted for attachment to said vehicle rearwardly of the load,

lower jaw means projecting forwardly from a lower portion of said frame means and adapted to extend beneath the load,

upper jaw means projecting forwardly from an upper portion of said frame means in vertically spaced relation to said lower jaw means and adapted to extend over the load,

movable jaw means pivoted at one end thereof to a forward end portion of said upper jaw means for generally vertical pivoting movement, said movable jaw means being pivotable between a raised open position enabling positioning of said upper and lower jaw means above and below the load and a lowered closed position wherein said movable jaw means extends downwardly from said upper jaw means to said lower jaw means to contain the load,

and track means along the inner circumference of said upper, lower and movable jaw means for guiding a binding strap about the load, said track means being continuous from one said jaw means to the others when said movable jaw means is closed 20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said frame means defines an operatods compartment including control means for operating said jaw means and strapping means for feeding a metal binding strap along said track means to encircle a load within said jaw 

1. An elongate load-bundling and -strapping attachment for a materials handling vehicle, said attachment comprising: vertically extending frame means adapted for attachment to the load-handling mechanism of said vehicle rearwardly of the load, a lower jaw means projecting forwardly from a lower portion of said frame means and adapted to extend beneath the load, an upper jaw means projecting forwardly from an upper portion of said frame means in vertically spaced relation to said lower jaw means and adapted to extend over the load, movable jaw means pivoted at one end thereof to a forward end portion of said upper jaw means for generally vertical pivoting movement, said movable jaw means being pivotable between a raised open position enabling positioning of said upper and lower jaw means above and below the load and a lowered closed position wherein said movable jaw means extends downwardly from said upper jaw means to said lower jaw means to contain the load, and track means along the inner circumference of said upper, lower and movable jaw means for guiding a binding strap about the load, said track means being continuous from one said jaw means to the others when said movable jaw means is closed.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means defines an operator''s compartment for controlling the operation of said movable jaw means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means defines an operators''s compartment including control means for operating said jaw means and strapping means for feeding a metal binding strap along said track means to encircle a load within said jaw means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame means defines an operator''s compartment including structural means for protecting an operator within said compartment from a load within said jaw means and control means for operating said movable jaw means, strapping means for feeding a strap along said track means to encircle a load within said jaw means, and remote control means for operating an attached vehicle from said operator''s compartment.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said lower jaw means comprises a single straight jaw member fixed to and extending horizontally from a lower end of said operator''s compartment, said upper jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member fixed to an upper end of said operator''s compartment and including a generally horizontally extending outer portion, said movable jaw means comprising a single elongate curved jaw member curviNg outwardly and downwardly from said upper jaw member and curving inwardly toward said lower jaw member when said movable jaw member is in its closed position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means for pivoting said movable jaw means between its open and its closed positions comprising an extensible fluid motor means carried by said upper jaw means and connected to said movable jaw means.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said operator''s compartment includes a protective roof and protective load-restraining structural members extending from said roof to a platform portion of said compartment rearwardly of a load space defined by said upper, lower and movable jaw means.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a strap supply retention means and a power-operated strap feed means carried by said compartment for feeding said strap from said supply means into said track means at said upper jaw means and then in succession about said upper, movable and lower jaw means and back to said compartment.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said track means along said upper jaw means includes a strap-retaining means for retaining said strap in said track means against the force of gravity, said strap-retaining means being releasable under a pulling force on said strap to release said strap from said track means to engage a load within said jaw means.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said strap-retaining means is provided along substantially the full length of said upper jaw means and along an upper portion of said movable jaw means, said track means along the remaining length of said movable jaw means and along said lower jaw means comprising a channel-shaped open track extending inwardly of said movable and lower jaw means.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said strap-retaining means comprises a series of longitudinally adjacent retainer segments, each including a pair of laterally opposed retainer arm sections with inwardly extending lower strap-retaining portions, said arm sections being spring-biased inwardly to strap-retaining positions and being laterally separable from one another to release a retained strap when said strap is caused to exert a positive pressure against said arm sections.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lower jaw means comprises a single straight jaw member fixed to and extending horizontally from said frame means, said upper jaw means comprises a single elongate jaw member fixed to said frame means and including a generally horizontally extending outer portion, said movable jaw means comprising a single elongate curved jaw member curving outwardly from said upper jaw member, and inwardly toward said lower jaw member when said movable jaw member is in its closed position.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a strap supply retention means and power-operated strap feed means carried by said frame means for feeding said strap from said supply means into said track means and about said upper, movable and lower jaw means.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said track means along said upper jaw means includes a strap-retaining means for retaining said strap in said track means against the force of gravity, said strap-retaining means being releasable under a pulling force on said strap to release said strap from said track means to engage a load within said jaw means.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said strap-retaining means is provided along substantially the full length of said upper jaw means and along an upper portion of said movable jaw means, said track means along the remaining length of said movable jaw means and along said lower jaw means comprising a channel-shaped open track extending inwardly of said movable and lower jaw means.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said strap-retaining means comprises a series of loNgitudinally adjacent retainer segments, each including a pair of laterally opposed retainer arm sections with inwardly extending lower strapretaining portions, said arm sections being spring-biased inwardly to strap-retaining positions and being laterally separable from one another to release a retained strap when said strap is caused to exert a positive pressure against said arm sections.
 19. An elongate load-bundling and -strapping attachment for a vehicle, said attachment comprising: vertically extending frame means adapted for attachment to said vehicle rearwardly of the load, lower jaw means projecting forwardly from a lower portion of said frame means and adapted to extend beneath the load, upper jaw means projecting forwardly from an upper portion of said frame means in vertically spaced relation to said lower jaw means and adapted to extend over the load, movable jaw means pivoted at one end thereof to a forward end portion of said upper jaw means for generally vertical pivoting movement, said movable jaw means being pivotable between a raised open position enabling positioning of said upper and lower jaw means above and below the load and a lowered closed position wherein said movable jaw means extends downwardly from said upper jaw means to said lower jaw means to contain the load, and track means along the inner circumference of said upper, lower and movable jaw means for guiding a binding strap about the load, said track means being continuous from one said jaw means to the others when said movable jaw means is closed.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said frame means defines an operatod''s compartment including control means for operating said jaw means and strapping means for feeding a metal binding strap along said track means to encircle a load within said jaw means. 